2 Timothy 4:9-22 Study Guide: The Lord Stood By Me

Community Group Study Guide — The Lord Stood By 
2 Timothy 4:9-22

Study Information:
Do you ever think that the Apostles and disciples in the early church were some how super human and different than we are? It can be tempting to think that they somehow faced fewer challenges or weakness than we do, but then we read passages like this one where Paul talked so openly about being deserted and lonely and dependent on God. Paul revealed real human need and weakness in a way that magnified Jesus. In this passage we read how Paul expressed great confidence in God’s work in and through his own suffering and through the ministry of Timothy as he gave us wrote about real human frailty. Much of the Christian life is like that, balancing our human frailty with a confidence that God is there and at work through it. 

Deserted by His Friends
2 Timothy 4:9-13
This short section of scripture mentioned main names and many of them are positive examples of partnership in the gospel and friendship. Paul mentioned people like Priscilla and Aquila, Mark, Luke, Erastus and others who stood by him in the gospel. Yet, even though there are more people mentioned positively, the people who had left him weighed more heavily on his heart. Among that group was a man named Demas who had previously been mentioned in the same sentence as Luke indicating that Demas was a close to Paul and served alongside him ((see Colossians 4:14). Demas deserted Paul because he was in love with the present world, contextually we can read back a few verses and note how Paul talked about a crown of righteousness for those who looked forward to the appearing of Jesus (2 Timothy 4:9). This would lead us to believe that either Demas was not one of those who looked forward to the appearing of Jesus or he had given into cowardice and fear and left Paul. 

Paul does not give us any insight into the others he mentioned like Crescens or Titus apart from saying they left him. Likely they had good relationship and good reasons for leaving but this still weighed heavy on Paul. 

Loneliness is a normal part of human life and there will be times when we can point to all our friends in Christ and yet still feel lonely because of the smaller number that left of us or turned their back on us. 

Active Opposition
2 Timothy 4:14-15
In addition to being deserted Paul also faced active opposition. “Alexander the coppersmith did me great harm.” We do not know much about Alexander except that the warning here was urgent because Timothy could cross paths with him on his journey to see Paul. Some speculate that Alexander may have lived in Troas where Timothy was to gather some of Paul’s belongings and others suggest he may be the person who turned Paul in to be arrested. Either way he opposed the gospel and was actively looking for ways to oppose Christians. 

Unsupported at his Trial
2 Timothy 4:16
Finally, Paul remembered back to his first arrest and trial in the Roman court and how no one came to his defense. This was a time in Paul’s ministry where he stood alone, from a human perspective, and it appears that some of that experience was playing out again in this second arrest. 

But God was With Paul
2 Timothy 4:17-22
We’re meant to sympathize with Paul in these various trials, but more than that, Paul used his explanation of these trials for a greater purpose, to highlight that God was with him all the way. Look at verse 17, “the Lord stood by me and strengthened me.” That reality does not minimize our human frailty or our pain, but it is a truth worth more than anything. God never abandons his people even if our outward human circumstances appear that way. 

God standing by Paul was not a new experience or understanding for him, there are a few times in the book of Acts where Jesus spoke to Paul to remain steadfast in the face of trials. Likewise we know for all believers that the Holy Spirit has made them a dwelling place for God, so even if you feel lonely you are not truly alone. God standing by Paul enabled him to have courage to proclaim the gospel and to be confident that God would ultimately rescue him (2 Timothy 4:17-18). Part of understanding our human frailty is being able to trust that God supplies for us in our weakness and that he will give us the faith and courage to stand when times are excruciatingly hard. God supplied Paul with partners in the gospel, opportunities to boldly proclaim truth and the strength to endure, God can supply for you too in your time of need.

At your community group:
Take 15-20 minutes to share about how God has been at work in your life, prayer concerns and pray for one another.

How did God speak to you through the scripture and the sermon this week? 

Discussion Questions:
Read 2 Timothy 4:9-22

How does this passage highlight Paul’s human frailty and need for God?

Have you had times when close Christian friends have deserted you, if so what was that like and how did you endure?

What is the goal of God standing by Paul and strengthening him? Do you think this promise extends to us and our modern day situations?

Look back at your study of 2 Timothy. What have been some of the greatest encouragements from this letter and what are some specific things you have learned? Share with your group.